Vinh Long province of Mekong Delta has generated 111,517 tonnes of pangasius fish in 2011, down 2,911 tonnes from last year, according to the local news.

The reduction of growing areas is attributed to the fish production output, the newspaper said. As many as 232 local faming facilities have raised the fish on the growing areas of 399 hectares, decreasing by seven hectares from 2010.

High prices of aquatic feed and drugs and unstable prices of unprocessed pangasius fish discourage local farmers to develop aquatic farming, said local authorities.

Vietnam-produced pangasius fish is exported to numerous world markets, including the US, EU, Russia, Australia, and Japan. In the first 11 months of the year, the country shipped the fish worth US$1.7 billion.